Swansea University has managed to secure not just one but two top awards in the competitive constructing excellence field.

The iconic state-of-the-art Institute of Life Science (Phase 2) building was awarded the Wales BREEAM Healthcare 2008 award for new buildings in 2012 at the Constructing Excellence in Wales annual awards dinner at the SWALEC stadium in Cardiff.

The Institute of Life Science (Phase 2) project was constructed by the Leadbitter Group, which received a Bronze Award at national level from the Considerate Constructors Scheme. The BREEAM award will be added to ILS2’s trophy cupboard.

The ILS2 development is a joint venture between Swansea University and the Abertawe Bro-Morgannwg NHS Health Board, and is located on NHS land between the campus and Singleton Hospital. A sustainable building (in construction and use) had to be delivered which would also be suitable for the highly-specialised functions of clinical research, clinical trials and the Centre for NanoHealth. The key features which helped to achieve a high BREEAM score were: low waste, low water, low energy, renewable energy and dedicated sustainability advice through to handover.

Winners of BREEAM awards represent the leading examples of construction projects and recognise the achievement of those involved in their approach to the environmental aspects of their specification, design and construction.

Swansea University also scooped the Constructing Excellence in Wales (CEW) 2012 award for “Integration and Collaborative Working” at the same event.

The University won its award for its Contractor and Consultant Framework which showcases the wide range of new build, reconfiguration, refurbishment, student experience and maintenance projects which have taken place over recent years. The recent extensive high quality projects have been delivered using the added value and collaborative working ethos which comes from the Framework.

Through the CEW Awards construction in Wales has consistently demonstrated that it is setting a high standard of best practice and collaboration, making the judges task of selecting potential winners harder every year.Competition has been fierce with 6 or 7 projects being shortlisted in some categories.

Craig Nowell, Director of Estates and Facilities Management was delighted to receive the awards saying; “ Swansea University is undergoing deliberate transformation change and has to remain “fleet of foot” to develop facilities which deliver within the changing and challenging Higher Education Institution sector. The re-modelling of the Singleton Campus deserves recognition for the enlightened way it deals with legacy infrastructure – one of the main issues facing the sector in Wales. Careful refurbishment, environmental upgrades, and strategic relocation of space combine with some targeted new-build as an evolving, long-term strategy for improvement.”

“ We are delighted that these awards recognise the efforts of all those involved in helping to turn our ambitious campus expansion and development programme into reality that will provide an environment of research excellence, delivering an outstanding student experience and becoming a powerhouse for growth in the regional economy. “